A/N: I'm posting this at 5 in morning, so please flame all you want. I'll probably go back and totally change this anyways.

Same As It Never: Origins

Part One: Insanity

Chapter Twenty One: Maybe A Nightmare

Don sneered at the young kunoichi. The blood of her soldiers had already whet the monster's appetite, what was one more?

Karai, however, paled before him. "You...you're dead!" She shouted from across the walk. "I saw you myself!" Backing up to a wall, she shook her head. "You jumped! The cameras caught it on tape! There's no way you should be alive! It's impossible!"

Don just grinned. "If there's one thing you should note," Swinging his scythe, Don stood protectively in front of the others. "It's that I always break the impossible."

Karai's eyes widened. She licked her lips, and almost looked like she was going to run. Instead, she gripped her sword, and sent Don one of her famous death glares. She wasn't going anywhere.

"Make her suffer," Raph murmured. "Make her pay."

Don happily obliged, throwing himself forward. He was at a disadvantage though- despite how efficient his weapon was, it was too long. Karai easily dodged his attack before making her own. Her sword barely nicked his side, and his eyes widened - no one had been able to touch him in ages.

"You wanted to die Donatello? You've gotten your wish!" Lunging, Karai went after him full force.

"Raphael! Take Mikey and-" Staring at the girl, he ground his teeth. "And her out of here! I'll join you!" Flinging Karai back, he gestured to the door.

She growled, attempting to go after Raph. He was weak after all, and carrying the weakest of them all. The girl did not matter, she was irrelevant. Not nearly as important. "You'll be joining them in your deaths."

"Pathetic Karai. I don't think you've ever killed before in your life," Don smirked. "I on the other hand," He didn't need to finish his sentence. It was evident...one was going to die.

Staring at each other, both gripped their weapons tightly. It would be foolish to make the first move, since the other could read their opponent so clearly. And so they sat there, patiently waiting for who knew how long.

Don wished that they could have their battle right then and there - It was something he looked forward to, ever since he had first seen her. He despised her, right then and there, from the moment she had popped into their lives and turned her back on them to fight the Kraang. He had hated her ever since, and would even after she died at his hands.

The roar of the Shredder caught his attention. He may be able to to take down Karai, and even Shredder, by himself, but both would certainly be a challenge. And any other day he would be for it, but right now he had a mission to complete. He had to get his brothers to safety.

Pulling out a trusty, simply device, Don threw the smoke bomb on the floor. The air filled with the sulfurous smell and purple smoke, and with that quick distraction, Don disappeared. He hated evading, and he swore to himself that one day soon he would slice their throats. But as much as he wanted his to avenge his vendetta, his brothers came first. At least...while he had the strength to save them.

They actually hadn't gotten too far. Raph's wavering stamina combined with Mikey's thrashing fever had slowed them down, but the girl hadn't abandoned them. She was doing what she could to help them, but it wasn't much.

Grabbing Mikey from Raph, Don pushed his way to the roof. The other two followed close behind, finally breaking into the sunlight. Turning to Raph, Don cocked an eyebrow. "Can you jump?"

Raph was trying to catch his breath, still winded from running with his own wounds. There was no telling how extensive they were, but and he always had a way of hiding their severity. "Yeah..." He breathed, gazing apprehensively at the the space between them and the next building.

"Jump?" The girl's eyes widened.

"It's jump or go back to the Foot. Your choice," Don retorted. She nodded in response, then backed up and took off running, vaulting the space between the two buildings. It was something she clearly had never done before, and she didn't even hesitate. Don had to admit he was impressed. It was admirable.

Glancing at Raph, both brothers took off. They hadn't leapt across rooftops together in forever, and certainly not like this. Not on the run, not from the Shredder. Not like this at all.

Those few seconds in midair were just like when Don had jumped to die his supposed death. Now he leapt to live, and carried his brother along with him. It was ironic how the same thing could become polar opposite.

To say he landed gracefully would be a gross misconception. He wasn't used to carrying someone, and the moment his foot landed on the concrete, he felt the pressure. He had sprained it, but he had to keep moving. He had to be oblivious to pain, at least for Mikey. He couldn't be weak, not now.

"We can't be out in the open," Don stated, looking at a nearby shed. "We have to hide, now."

Kicking it Raph style, Don broke the door open. Raph and the girl followed in silence, and there they sat. The escapees heard the Foot Ninja pass by, but apparently they were idiotic enough to not even consider the blatant hiding places near their base.

"Why isn't Dogpound sniffing us out?" Raph whispered to no one in particular.

"He's gone," The girl replied. "He and Fishface were sent on a more important mission."

Don breathed out a quick sigh of relief. Despite the situation, they were lucky. Luckier than others who had come in contact with Shredder at least. "We have to play it safe," He stated. "We can't leave until nightfall, and even then we have to watch it."

Silence ensued. Four beings to share a small shed for the next eight hours at least - it seemed impossible, but they had to do it if they wanted to live.

The girl set to looking Mikey over. She seemed to have a bit more medical expertise than Don, which was surprising, but welcome. There wasn't much he could do, not now.

Glancing at Raph, Don shook his head to himself. "So what you been up to?" Don blinked. He was stunned to hear such casual words come from his hot headed brother's mouth.

Don sighed inwardly, but kept a straight face in front of Raph. He was a curse upon their family, and he couldn't act any less than that in front of him. "Oh you know, the usual. Taking out Purple Dragons, Foot Clan. Jumping off roofs and falling to what you hoped was your death," The tone was so indifferent that, had it been anybody else, Raph would have thought he was joking.

"Sounds like the life."

Don couldn't help but chuckle. The whole situation was just too weird. It wasn't right...too much like a dream. Or maybe a nightmare...

A/N: My hopes are to actually finish this story by tomorrow. Wish me luck with a review ;) Thanks!